Tyler Toffoli Could Make NHL Debut Tonight For Los Angeles Kings

By Jonathan Katje

Matt Kartozian – USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Kings recalled rookie forward Tyler Toffoli from the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL on Sunday, and the young scoring sensation could make his NHL debut tonight when the Kings face the Phoenix Coyotes. The Kings have had the Coyotes’ number in recent seasons, winning 11 of the last 15 meetings between the two teams. The Kings also knocked the Coyotes out of the playoff last season, and come in tonight’s match-up as one of the hottest teams in the league having won 11 of their last 14 games.

Toffoli has scored 28 goals in the AHL this season, placing first among rookies and second overall. He represented the Monarchs at the 2013 AHL All-Star Classic and also boasts a plus-20 rating this season. The Kings drafted Toffoli in the second round of the 2010 NHL Draft, after his second season in the OHL with the Ottawa 67’s. That season saw him score 37 goals and adding 42 assists and he only kept on improving from there on. During the 2010-11 season, he scored 57 goals and reached what would be a career-high 108 points before joining the Monarchs at the end of the OHL season. He scored his first professional goal in his only regular season game for Manchester and added another goal in five playoff appearances. Last season saw Toffoli score 52 goals and reach 100 points, no doubt getting Kings fans excited about his future with the team. He leads the Monarchs in goals this season and trails only Linden Vey for the team’s points lead.

The Kings made Toffoli a healthy scratch for last night’s game against the Calgary Flames, but it seems unlikely he was called up to not play so look for him to make his NHL debut tonight against the Coyotes or Thursday against the San Jose Sharks.

Jonathan Katje is an NHL blogger for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JKatje or add him to you network on Google.